South Carolina DD Waiver Application: How to Register With BHDD-OIDD

The Agency That Manages DD Waivers

As of April 2025, South Carolina's developmental disability waivers are administered by the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (OIDD) within the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDD). BHDD is a new cabinet-level agency that merged three formerly independent organizations: the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN), the Department of Mental Health, and the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services.

If you've been told to "contact DDSN," the function still exists — it just operates under BHDD-OIDD now. The intake phone number, eligibility criteria, and waiver structures remain the same.

Two Waivers, One Application Process

OIDD operates two primary waivers for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities:

ID/RD Waiver (Intellectual Disability/Related Disabilities) — the comprehensive option. No annual service cost cap. Covers residential habilitation, day services, personal care, behavior support, assistive technology, respite, and environmental modifications. Designed for individuals who meet the ICF/IID level of care.

Community Supports Waiver — a capped-budget option covering behavior support, in-home care, respite, environmental modifications, and day programs. Intended for individuals living with family who need moderate support.

The application process for both starts the same way. An individual can be placed on both waitlists simultaneously but can only enroll in one waiver at a time.

Step-by-Step Intake Process

Step 1: Call BHDD-OIDD at 1-800-289-7012. This is the single entry point. The caller provides demographic information and a general description of the applicant's disability. The intake process starts with this phone call.

Step 2: Select intake service providers. During the call, the operator reads a list of approved intake providers in the applicant's area. The caller selects three. OIDD forwards the referral to the chosen provider.

Step 3: Eligibility evaluation. The selected intake provider contacts the family within two weeks. They collect medical records, psychological evaluations, educational records, and adaptive behavior assessments. These are submitted to OIDD for a clinical eligibility determination.

Step 4: Waitlist placement. If OIDD determines the applicant meets clinical eligibility criteria, they are placed on the appropriate waiver priority list. OIDD records a "date of request" and mails a letter confirming placement and waitlist position.

The date of request is the most important single data point in this process. The waitlists operate on a date-of-request basis — earlier registration means earlier service. Families should initiate intake as soon as a diagnosis of intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder with significant adaptive deficits, or a related developmental disability is established, even if the child is years away from needing adult services.

Clinical Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, the applicant must meet the Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) level of care. This requires:

• A documented intellectual disability or related developmental disability
• Onset before age 22
• Substantial functional limitations in adaptive behavior

The evaluation considers diagnoses including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and other conditions that produce significant adaptive deficits. The key factor is functional limitation — not diagnosis alone. A person with autism and an average IQ can qualify if their adaptive behavior deficits are severe enough.

What Records to Prepare

Before the intake provider contacts you, assemble:

• Psychological evaluations with IQ scores and adaptive behavior assessments (Vineland, ABAS, or SIB-R)
• Medical diagnoses from treating physicians, neurologists, or psychiatrists
• School records including psychoeducational evaluations, IEP documents, and transition assessments
• Treatment histories showing ongoing service needs and the duration of the condition
• Daily living documentation describing specific limitations in self-care, communication, mobility, and community participation

Comprehensive documentation at the intake stage prevents delays. If OIDD determines the submitted records are insufficient, they will request additional evaluations — adding weeks or months to the process.

The Waitlist Reality

After eligibility is confirmed and the applicant is placed on the list, the wait begins. Current volumes as of January 2025:

• ID/RD Waiver: 19,822 individuals, typical wait of 5–10 years
• Community Supports Waiver: 16,129 individuals, typical wait of 3–7 years

During the wait, families should maintain contact with OIDD. Keep your contact information current and respond promptly to any correspondence.

When the Slot Opens

When the individual nears the top of the list, their status changes to "processing." A 45-day active case management period begins, during which the Level of Care assessment is completed and a service plan is developed. Once a waiver slot is formally allocated, the individual must receive at least two waiver services within the first 60 days to maintain enrollment.

The South Carolina SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide includes a waiver tracking log that records your date of request, intake provider contacts, annual status correspondence, and the Reserved Capacity criteria that could accelerate your timeline if circumstances change.

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